Supervisors hear regional behavioral health transition details as July 1 changeover approaches

Jackson County Board of Supervisors heard a detailed briefing May 20 on an upcoming July 1 transition that will move parts of the region’s behavioral health system to an Administrative Services Organization (ASO) and create a Disability Access Point (DAP) to handle long-term navigation and referrals.

The presentation, led by county behavioral-health staff, outlined that the ASO will pay for counseling, psychiatric care, inpatient and outpatient psychiatric services, mobile crisis and substance-abuse treatment; existing provider contracts will continue for six months while the ASO negotiates longer-term arrangements. "The providers who we are contracted with will continue to get paid, for at least 6 months," Laurie, a county behavioral-health staff member, told the board.

Why it matters: supervisors raised concerns that the ASO will switch to Medicaid reimbursement rates, a change Laurie said "sounds like they're gonna be reducing the rates of the crisis, mobile crisis and everything." County officials said that could reduce provider revenue and complicate continuity of services for people who need crisis or long-term supports.

Board discussion and staff details followed three threads: (1) short-term continuity, (2) how the DAP will handle long-term services and supports, and (3) administrative tasks counties must complete. Staff said the DAP will provide navigation, referrals, advice and guidance and will look at residential care facilities, transportation and rental subsidies to stabilize people in the community. "They are also going to be looking at RCFs, transportation, and rental subsidies, for some folks...that does keep them stable in the community," Laurie said.

County staff said HHS indicated it will reimburse "reasonable expenses" for court advocates; Laurie described those expenses broadly as including a portion of wages and benefits, mileage and car upkeep for transportation. The board was also told that each county will receive a resolution to end the existing 28E agreement among the five counties; supervisors were told that resolution will come to them for signature. "She's getting that all finalized on her end, and then she'll send it our way to get approved for 5 counties," staff said of the 28E agreement process.

Staff flagged operational items and deadlines: the regional website will be vacated as of June 30, 2025; consumers with services already authorized will have those services honored for six months after the change; and guardianship services may continue via contracted vendors but could have waiting lists. "Website will be vacated as of 06/30/2025. And, honor they will honor services that have been set for clients for 6 months," a staff member said.

Supervisor Don Swenker and others pressed staff about demand: staff reported an unusual recent rise in court committals in the region, with 75 committals in a three-week span, 53 of whom were new to services. "Three weeks here in March, our region had 75 totals in 3 weeks, which is extremely high," Laurie said, and staff said they are asking neighboring regions whether they have seen similar spikes.

Board direction: no formal votes were recorded on the floor; staff will continue follow-up with state HHS and the ASO, circulate the 28E termination resolution when complete, and monitor provider negotiations and client impacts during the six-month continuity period.

What remains unresolved: how the ASO will set final reimbursement (hourly vs. salary for advocates), how DAP staffing will be distributed across counties, and whether reduced rates will affect provider availability. Supervisors said they will monitor implementation closely and requested continued updates as the July 1 transition approaches.